| Following a
major disaster, first responders who provide fire and medical services
will not be able to meet the demand for these services. Factors as
number of victims, communication failures, and road blockages will
prevent people from accessing emergency services they have come to
expect at a moment's notice through 911. People will have to rely on
each other for help in order to meet their immediate life saving and
life sustaining needs
Hurricane Isabel -
September 2003 - Charlottesville's CERT Team
Hurricane Charley -
August 2004 - Charlottesville's CERT Team Responds
CERT -
Community Emergency Response Team - is about readiness, people helping
people, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest
number. CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and
disaster situations where citizens will be initially on their own and
their actions can make a difference. Through training, citizens can
manage utilities and put out small fires; treat the three killers by
opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating for shock; provide
basic medical aid; search for and rescue victims safely; and organize
themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective.
The Community
Emergency Response Team concept was developed and implemented by the Los
Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) in 1985. The Whittier Narrows
earthquake in 1987 underscored the area-wide threat of a major disaster
in California. Further, it confirmed the need for training civilians to
meet their immediate needs. As a result, the LAFD created the Disaster
Preparedness Division with the purpose of training citizens and private
and government employees.
The training
program that LAFD initiated makes good sense and furthers the process of
citizens understanding their responsibility in preparing for disaster.
It also increases their ability to safely help themselves, their family
and their neighbors. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
recognizes the importance of preparing citizens. The Emergency
Management Institute (EMI) and the National Fire Academy adopted and
expanded the CERT materials believing them applicable to all hazards.
CERT training
will benefit any citizen who takes it. This individual will be better
prepared to respond to and cope with the aftermath of a disaster.
Additionally, if a community wants to supplement its response capability
after a disaster, civilians can be recruited and trained as
neighborhood, business, and government teams that, in essence, will be
auxiliary responders. These groups can provide immediate assistance to
victims in their area, organize spontaneous volunteers who have not had
the training, and collect disaster intelligence that will assist
professional responders with prioritization and allocation of resources
following a disaster. Since 1993 when this training was made available
nationally by FEMA, communities in 28 States and Puerto Rico have
conducted CERT training.
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